WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) -- If you're a pet owner, you and your four-legged friends may be interested to know that Wilmington's only after hours emergency veterinary clinic is moving.

Eastern Carolina Veterinary Referral and their Animal Emergency and Trauma Hospital are relocating. The after hours clinic will have the same hours but also some new improvements.

"Reason for the move is to provide better patient care as well as improve our services,” practice owner Dr. Ned Williams said. “We're out of space in this building, and we need more efficient facilities as well as the ability to bring in other specialists to provide improved services for the entire community."

Dr. Williams says he and his staff are excited to move to the new building that's nearly three times the size of the one they're in now. The new facility off Greenville Avenue will have an expanded ICU and rehab center, more exam rooms and more specialists on hand, such as an ophthalmologist and an internal medicine vet. Williams said the emergency clinic has to be prepared for everything.

"Just the same as if you had to go to a regular human emergency hospital, you never know when something's going to come up in the middle of the night that's a problem,” Williams said.

Molly Wisniewski's dog Mulligan is just one example.

"Unfortunately because my dog has a virus. He's a six-month old puppy,” Wisniewski said. “We were at another vet's office during the day. They closed down, so they suggested we bring him here for the night."

Wisniewski said that she was impressed by the friendliness of the staff and the cleanliness of the building. She said she's thankful the after hours hospital is an option and will certainly turn to the doctors there if her regular vet is not available.

"If it's necessary, absolutely. I know they have different hours, so if there ever was something that came up, or if their hours were to change, absolutely we'd be here,” Wisniewski said. “I think we'll find out as we actually sit down with the doctor and see how well they do with the dog, but I'm confident that they're going to do a good job."

Dr. Williams and his staff invite everyone to attend an open house next Saturday, July 16 from 10a.m. to 2p.m. at the new facility, located at 50 Greenville Avenue.

Clinic hours are as follows:
Monday-Friday: 6p.m. to 8a.m.
Saturday at noon to Monday at 8a.m.

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